MORE than 50 people in the county are still waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, as the NHS launches an urgent plea for donors.

Last year, 29 people in Worcestershire had their lives saved by an organ transplant and NHS Blood and Transplant is encouraging families to discuss donating in a bid to attract more donors.

From spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered as having agreed to donate their own organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

The plea for more organ donors comes as part of the NHS Blood and Transplant’s Organ Donation Week which runs this week.

The NHS is encouraging families to talk about organ donation to boost the amount of donations and so families can understand each other’s wishes.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We need more people in Worcestershire to talk about organ donation to increase the number of lifesaving transplants.

“Even after the law around organ donation changes next year, families will still be approached before organ donation goes ahead. So it remains so important to talk to your families about your views.

“Register your organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell your family the choice you have made.

“If the time comes, we know families find the organ donation conversation with nurses or medical teams much easier if they already know what their relative wanted.”

The ‘opt out’ system for organ donation will come into effect in England from spring 2020.

Until then, if you die in circumstances where you may be able to donate, staff will continue to check the organ donor register to see if you have recorded a decision to be a donor.

If you have, then your family will be asked to respect this.

If you have not registered as a donor, your family will be asked to make a decision on your behalf.

Even after the law has changed, families will continue to be approached before organ donation goes ahead and knowing what their relative wanted, helps families support their decision at a difficult time, the NHS said.

Only 40 per cent of adults had shared their organ donation decision with their family or partner, according to a survey by the NHS.

Every day across the UK around three people who could have benefited from a transplant die because there are not enough organ donors.

Anyone can join the NHS Organ Donor Register and age and medical conditions are not necessarily a barrier to donation.

To register as an organ donor visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.